Fireplace damper



Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED .STATES t 1,669,825 PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER W. GUY, OF OAK` PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO COLONIAL. FIREPLLACE COH- l PANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS.

FIREPLACE DAMPER.

Application filed lay 1, 1926. Serial No.106,085.

My invention relates to fireplaces, and more specifically to an improved means for controlling the opening in the fireplace throat.

Among the primary objects `and advantages of the inventionmay be :enumerated the production of a convenient and inconspicuous means for controlling the. throat opening, preferably without penetrating any ofthe brickwork. Stated more specifically, this involves adequatejleverageand good accessibility when the ldevice 4is being `operated, combined with means vfor keeping the operating handle, or lever, out of sightand out ofthe waywhen not in use.

Another object is adjustability .to accommodate fireplaces of different dimensions.

Further objects and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a fireplace-equipped with a damper according to the invention;`

Figure 2 is a partialfront elevation ofthe parts shown in Figure 1 with mostof the brickwork removed; and v f vFig-urel isa ldiagranfnnatic plan as insection on line 3-3 of Figure .1.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the fireplace comprises the usual back walllO andarch wall 12, preferably thickened at 14, to leave an exit at '16 V.for the products of combustion, which exit is commonly referred to as the throat. The dome 18 preferably comprises a front wall 20 and a rearwardly extending portion 22 resting on the angle of the back wall 10 and cut away to provide the throat opening. The lower edge of the damper 24 rocks in suitable notches formed on the portion 22 of the dome. As the foregoing structure is old and well known in the art, and described in detail in Patent No. 1,105,651, issued to me August 4, 1914, detailed disclosure of these portions is deemed unnecessary.

In the design illustrated the front portion of the arch wall extends down a considerable distance below the enlargement 14 and its lower rear edge is protected and reinforced by an angle 26.

On the wall 2O I mount a depending bracket 28 having a horizontal offset 30 at its lower end. In the horizontal offset I pivot a vertical. shaft 32 having a D-shaped section, as clearly indicated in Figure 3. The arms 81 of the offset 30 may be connect-` ed in the usual way by an adjustingscrew 34 for controlling the friction, asdescribed hereinafter.

Above the offsetBO I mounta-gear 36 fastened on the shaft against both rotation and slidingmovementas by a set screw 138, and having bevel -teeth40. :The teeth 540 mesh with cooperatingtoeth on thcrhub 42 of the `crank `arm 44. This crank arm is joulnaled on .a horizontal pivotformed by a bolthaving a shank 46 extending through the vert-ical portion of thebracket 28, and a head 48 rotatably receivingthe end ofthe shaft 32 above the gear 36. ffIhus,theibelt` interconnects-the .pin 46 and the upperend of the shaft 82, so that they brace fan strengthen each other.

Theupper end of the `crank arm44 `is connected to a lug50 on the'dampcrfmember.

24 by means of apair` of links 52,with-Ypivot pins, or rivets, 53 at their ends.

The buttsection 5410i the operating arm' is rigidly fastenedtothe lower end ofthe shaft-32 and is provided with a U-shaped depression56 for receiving the telescoping handle section 58. A pairiof :screwsf60sliding in a slot `62lin thebottom of the operating arm constitute suitable means for main-y wall, and the increased leverage resulting y 4makes the subsequent turning movement of the arm easy and convenient. After the adjustment is completed, the arm can be slid back out of sight. l

The friction of the parts, with the set screw 34 loose, is not quite sufficient to.hold the parts in adjusted position, but when such friction is supplemented by a slight tightening of the set screw, it is found that the de- Vice can be made self-locking in any7 position, and that it will remain so over a lont;l period of use.

The vertical adjustabilit,7 o the rod 32 in the bracket, and of the butt section 5-1- on the rod, make it possible to sell a stock mechanism that will lit almost. any tireplacc. Thus, while three courses ot brick below the throat are usual, man v are built with two, ln such a lireplace it is a simple matter to slide the rod up about the height of one course and the butt section up on the rod for further adjustment. Similarly, in some more expensive installations, a stone, slab may be used instead of the brick arch wall. The telescopic n'lounting,r oit the handle Section will take care oi all ordinary variations in arch 'all thickness.

rThe bracket matv be installed on the plate Q0 after the tixed parts ot the structure have been built into place. Removal of the bracket and one oi the pivots 53 connecting up the links will enable a workman to take out and replace the entire operating mechanism and thel damper member, which latter can be lifted up into the clear space above it and turned endwise to remove it.

Without further elaboration, the 'torcgoing will so fully explain the. gist oi in v invention, that others may, by applying; currentknowledg'e, readily adapt the same 'lor use. under various conditions ot' service. The set screw 38 permits vertical adjustment of the operatingI arm 54 to lit arch Walls of ditlerent heights, and it will be obvious that the advantages of the structure disclosed would still be present in case it were preferred to have the handle section stick through a narrow slot in the arch wall above the lower edge of the same. Yithout eliminating certain features which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims; these and man?,v other modiications may readily be made by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. The combination with a lireplace having a throat` ol a damper comprising a pivoted damper member in said throat, a bracket, in Al'rout oi the throat, a crank arm journalcd on said bracket. a link connecting' said crank arm and damper member, a downwardl)y evtcmling vrtical shaft jour'- naled on said bracket. an operating arm on the lower end ot' said shaft, said arm comprising a butt section and a handle section telescoping` on said butt section, and a gear transmi fon comici-tin,c` said sha'l't and said crank arm.

2. The combination with a lireplace havin;r a throat` ot damper means co1'i1}'a'i;-"ingf` a damper member in .said throat, a bracket in front oi the throat, a crank arm journaled on said bracket, a link connecting said crank arm and damper member, a downwardl v extendingv vertical shaltI journarled on said bracket, an operating arm on the lower end ot' said shatt, said arm comprising"r a butt section and a handle section telescopingr on said butt section, and an operative connection between said shaft and said crank arm.

3. The combination with a fireplace having: a throat. of damper means comprising a movable damper member, a bracket in lront oi said member, a crank arm journaled on said bracket, a link connectingir said crank arm and damper member, a shaft journaled on said bracket, an operating arm on said sha'lt, said arm con'iprising a butt section and a handle section Roles-coping on said butt section, and an operative eonnection between said shaft and said crank arm.

ln witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day ot April, ltt.

WALTER XV. GU Y. 

